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Premium & Luxury · India

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card

4.8 / 5 editorial score

A premium metal card on the Diners Club network that pairs a strong base reward rate with Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One memberships on ₹1.5 lakh spend in the first 90 days. Heavy travelers love the unlimited lounge access and 10x rewards on SmartBuy.

#2 of 7 · Premium & Luxury · India#2 of 34 · All India cards
Annual fee₹10,000/yr
IssuerHDFC Bank
NetworkDiners Club
Welcome offerClub Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One (3 months) on spe…
Interest rateAround 23.88% per annum (1.99% per…
Foreign fee2% markup on foreign currency…
Who qualifiesExcellent

Why it ranks

  • Unlimited domestic and international lounge access
  • High reward potential through the SmartBuy portal
  • Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One memberships on ₹1.5 lakh early spend
  • Annual fee waived on Rs.8 lakh spend

What holds it back

  • Diners Club is accepted at fewer merchants than Visa or Mastercard
  • High income eligibility threshold
  • Best value only if you book through SmartBuy

Advertiser disclosure: we may be paid if you apply through our links. Ratings are editorial. Confirm today's terms on the issuer's site — offers change.

Our verdict

Why the HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card ranks where it does

The Diners Club Black Metal is Infinia for people who can live with Diners Club acceptance, and at ₹10,000 plus taxes it is the cheaper way into HDFC's top reward tier. HDFC values its points at ₹1 on SmartBuy flight and hotel bookings, lets you pay up to 70% of a booking with them, and adds 10,000 bonus points every calendar quarter in which you spend ₹4 lakh.

That quarterly bonus is the real engine. Four qualifying quarters bring 40,000 points a year before any base earning, and ₹16 lakh of annual spend clears the ₹8 lakh renewal waiver twice over. Fall a little short of ₹4 lakh and the bonus for that quarter disappears entirely, so the card suits steady spenders rather than lumpy ones.

The cost is acceptance. Diners Club is refused at some Indian merchants and many overseas ones, so most holders keep a Visa or Mastercard alongside. In return you get unlimited lounge access for primary and add-on members at more than 1,300 lounges, complimentary golf games (confirm the current quarterly quota with HDFC), a 2% forex markup, and Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One memberships if you spend ₹1.5 lakh in the first 90 days.

Good fit if

  • Spenders who reliably put ₹4 lakh a quarter on one card
  • SmartBuy users who redeem for flights and hotels
  • Frequent flyers who want unlimited lounge access for add-on members

Skip it if

  • People who pay mostly at small merchants that may not take Diners Club
  • Anyone whose spending swings well below ₹4 lakh in some quarters
Worked example

Assume ₹4 lakh of eligible spend in each calendar quarter, ₹16 lakh a year. The quarterly milestone pays 10,000 bonus points four times, 40,000 points in total, and the ₹16 lakh total is above the ₹8 lakh needed to waive the ₹10,000 renewal fee. To stay conservative we ignore the base points altogether and value each bonus point at ₹0.30, the most HDFC gives for products and vouchers: 40,000 × ₹0.30 = ₹12,000. Redeemed on SmartBuy flights or hotels at ₹1, the same bonus points are worth ₹40,000.

How it stacks up

The HDFC Infinia Metal shares the ₹1 SmartBuy point value and unlimited lounges but runs on Visa and needs ₹10 lakh for its waiver; it is by invitation only, while the Diners Club Black is open to applications. The HDFC Regalia Gold costs ₹2,500 and suits people spending well under ₹4 lakh a quarter, though its point values and lounge allowance are much lower.

A premium metal card on the Diners Club network that pairs a strong base reward rate with Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One memberships on ₹1.5 lakh spend in the first 90 days. Heavy travelers love the unlimited lounge access and 10x rewards on SmartBuy.

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card at a glance

IssuerHDFC Bank
Card networkDiners Club
Annual fee₹10,000
Welcome bonusClub Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One (3 months) on spending ₹1.5 lakh in the first 90 days
Rewards rate3.3% base, up to 33% via SmartBuy
Intro APRN/A
Regular APRAround 23.88% per annum (1.99% per month)
Foreign transaction fee2% markup on foreign currency transactions
Credit neededExcellent
Best forFrequent flyers who want luxury perks on the Diners network
Airport lounge accessYes

Rewards & benefits

  • 5 Reward Points for every Rs.150 of eligible spend
  • Up to 10X Reward Points on SmartBuy travel and shopping
  • 2 complimentary golf games per quarter at premium courses
  • Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One (3 months) on ₹1.5 lakh spend in the first 90 days
  • Reward Points redeemable for flights, hotels and products

Eligibility & who it suits

  • Indian resident with CIBIL score of 750 or above
  • Salaried with high monthly income, or self-employed with strong ITR
  • Valid PAN and standard KYC documents
  • Existing HDFC relationship helps approval

How to apply

Check current rates on HDFC Bank’s official site →

This opens the issuer’s official application page in a new tab. We may earn a commission if you are approved — it never changes the terms you receive.

Rates, fees, welcome offers and benefits are provided for general information, can change at any time, and may not reflect current terms. Always confirm the latest details on the issuer’s official site before applying. This is not financial advice.

How it ranks against similar India cards

RankCardAnnual feeRewardsWelcome offerForeign feeWho qualifiesScore
1
HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit CardFrequent flyers who want luxury perks on the Diners network
₹10,000/yr 3.3% base, up to 33% via SmartBuy Club Marriott, Amazon Prime and Swiggy One (3 months) on spe… 2% markup on foreign curre… Excellent 4.8
2
HDFC Infinia Credit Card (Metal Edition)High-net-worth spenders who want top-tier travel and luxury perks
₹12,500/yr 3.3% base value, up to 33% on SmartBuy bookings 12,500 bonus Reward Points on fee payment 2% markup on foreign curre… Excellent 4.9
3
Axis Bank Magnus Credit CardPoints maximizers who transfer rewards to airline miles
₹12,500/yr Around 4.8% base value, higher via partner transfers Large bonus EDGE Points or voucher on spend milestone 2% markup on foreign curre… Excellent 4.6
4
IDFC FIRST Wealth Credit CardHigh earners who want a free premium card with lounge, golf and a 1.5% forex markup
None 10X Reward Points on monthly spends above ₹20,000 and 3X up to ₹20,000 (1X = 1 p… See issuer for the current offer 1.5% forex markup Annual income of ₹36 lakh or mor… 4.5

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